Electric cigar-lighter



D; B. CLARK.

ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER. a APPLICATION FILED DEC. 11. I919.

Patented Mar. 8,1921.

ammm %Mz E 1 U ITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DUDLEY 3. CLARK, or mmis'rown, NEW Yonx, ASSIGNOR 'ro CLARK, osooon umALLISON INCOBPOBATED, A CORPORATION OF NEW, YORK.

nmc'rnrc CIGAR-LIGHTER.

To all whom it may concern. or

Be it known that I, DUDLEY B. './L ARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua andStateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Cigar-Lighters, OfjVlilCll the following, taken in connectionwiththe accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The invention relates to electrical ign-itei's or lighters, the specialuse being shown as a tobacco lighter, and the present invention ertainsto the construction shown in my tters Patent No. 1,253,575, datedJanuary 15, 1918. As in my former construction, the increase anddecrease of resistance is exerted in certain portions of the electricalresistance conductor according as it is desired to secure high or lowtemperature at c ertain points in said conductor by the addition orsubtraction of conductive material, and particularly the high resistancematerial at the point where more heat is required. The subtraction ofthe conductive materia-l is attained by punching, drilling or thinningthat portion of the metal so that the bridging between the holes oropenings will e heated to a higher temperature than the surroundingmaterial.

The object of the'present improvement is, first, to provide a grid orlighting element with connections through apush switch to atransformersothat the lighter may be attached to the regular electric light orother circuit as a source of electrical supply, .the transformerchanging from high circuit to a sufficiently low circuit to attain thedesired purpose; and second, to control the heat of the heating elementand blow all ashes or other foreign matter therefrom by means of anelectrically propelled fan from which the air under force is carried towithin a short distance of the inner side of said heating element andpasses out through the openings in the same preventing clogging; and theinvention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafterset forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cigar or tobaccolighter, showing the lighter head on the side ofthe same and themomentary push switch on top of the case. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview of the lighter head showing the lighting element and the manner ofattaching the same.

Specification of Letters'latent.

an end view of the transformer and Fli. 3 is a similar sectional view ofthe lig ter head, and also a vertical sectional view of the entire caseand fan, showing its connection through the momentary push switch to theopposite ends of the heating element. Fig.4 is a sectional view at line44 in Fig. 3 showing a side elevation" of the transformer and the mannerof connecting the same, also showing the motor and'blower connected inseries with the transformer and momentary contact switch. Fig. 5 is aplan view of the non-combustible head of the lighter showing the openingin the same beneath which the grid or lighting element is placed. Fi s.6 and 7 show edgewise and plan views 0 the lighting element or gridshowing the construction of the same with the thin central portion. Fig.8 is a plan view of the slotted block of non-combustible material inwhich the heating element or grid is mounted.

ike characters of reference refer to corres )onding parts in the severalviews.

he numeral 10 designates the casing which is preferably made of sheetmetal, and has the lighter head opening 11 preferably upon one sidethough it may be. placed on top of the same. The lighter head consistsof a ventilating hood and support 12 which is provided to cover theopening 11, being attached to the case 10 preferably by means ofsuitable screws though it may be spot welded to the casing. In order toventilate the interior of the casing 10 and the lighter head around theheating element, a series of ventilating openings 13 are providedpreferably around the lower side of the hood 12. These openin s 12 arepreferably screened, as shown in ig. 1, in order to (prevent cigar ashesand other dirt and dustentering the casing 10.

The support hood 12 is made tubular and has an inturned flange 11 aroundits outer end to receive thereon the noncombustible, preferably machinedlava, ring 16 which is attached to the hood 12 by means of screws 15through the inturned flange 14. The lava ring has the central openinglTwithin which the end of the cigar is placed to light the same.

The lighting device consists of a grid or plate 18 which has theperforations 19 through its central portion, the immediate central parthaving a larger number of said PatentedMar. 8, 1921; Application. flledDeoember 17, 1919. Serial No. 345,578.

perforations. Said perforations 19 asist in delaying the fiow of theelectrical current therethrough and thereb increase the resistance andheat of Sci plate or grid 18 and particularly the bridging portionbetween the perforations 19. Said central portion of the grid 18 is madethinner than the ends, as shown at 20 in Fig. 6, and the larger numberof perforations 19 through the central portion 20 increases theresistance at that point so that the resistance at said central portionis greater and it thereby attains a higher degree of heat. Each of theend portions 21 are of sufficient thickness to permit the electricalcurrent to flow freely to the thinner central portion 20 to therebyinsure the quick heating of said central portion.

The grid 18 is supported preferably upon a block 22 of non-combustiblematerial, preferably asbestos board, having the spaced slots 23 eachside of a central openin 24 which continues the opening 17 in the Tavaring 16, suitable holes 25 being provided in each end of the block 22for the attaching bolts 26 to lace the opening 24 as an extension of t eopening'17 though smaller, which bolts 26 extend u through the machinedlava ring 16. T e ends 21 of the grid 18 are turned and held against theinne side of the block 22 by being received in the copper terminals orfolded plates 27, each end21 and folded plate 27 being firmly held bythe nut on the inner end of each bolt 26.v The grid 18 passes up throughone of the slots 22 and crosses over the central opening 24 and beneathopening 17 and down through the opposite slot- 23and is then turned tobe received in the terminals 27. The electrical connecting wires 28 and29 are held in contact with the terminals 27 by the bolts on the nuts26. The grid 18 is preferably made of nichrome or other hi h resistancemetal for electricity. The per 0- rations 19 preferably extend centrallyfrom edge to edge of the grid so that the electrical current cannotescape around said perforations but must pass through and heat thebridging therebetween.

The numeral 30 designates a step-down transformer for the electricalcurrent which has the iron core 31 and windings 32, the

transformer 30 having a wire connecting cable 33 to the source ofelectrical energy. The transformer is connected to a momentary contactswitch 34 which is preferably of the push switch type so that the grid18 may be heated to incandescence for a short space of time by pushingin the push switch 34. The wires 28 and 29 also connect in series withthe push switch 34 and the transformer 30 by the wires 29.

A fan blower 35 with motor 36 is also connected in series with the pushswitch 34 and transformer so as to simultaneously receive the electricalcurrent when the push switch 34 is actuated. The fan 35 is mounted in atubular casing 37 whichhas the open end 38 within the casing 10 andextends up to with in a short distance of the opening 24 in the block 22which supports a grid 18.

This arrangement of the blower with conducting tube to the inner side ofthe resistance grid 18 at its central portion 20 permits lighting acigar or cigarette without drawing on the same through the li s, as thefan forces the air through the openings 20 in the hot grid 18 into thecigar thereby li hting the cigar. The blower 35 is o erated y the samepush button switch 34 t at lights the grid 18 to incandescencewithin theopening 11. At the same time also the fan 35 blows away all dust, dirt,cigar ashes and similar substance from the grid 18 and keeps theperforations 20 open so that the grid does not get clogged andinoperative but is always ready'for use.

It is apparent that the support for the grid 18 is simple, beingcomposed of the three pieces, the hood 12, machined lavaring 16 andblock 22. The ste -down transformer 30 is for use upon eiiectriclighting circuits. It is apparent that this simple cigar lighter may beused with a storage battery, making a safe cigar lighter for use onairplanes or motor trucks or lorries or wherever gasolene is used.

I claim as new 1. In combination with a cigar lighter head, an ignitingelement for a cigar connected through a step-down transformer to alighting circuit as an electrical source of supply to heat said ignitingelement.

2. In a ci ar lighter, a lighting head in cluding a dis having spacedslots, an igniting element disposed across the space hetween the slotsand on the outer face of the disk and having its ends extending throughthe slots and then turned outwardly at an angle and engaged with theinner face of the disk, a guard superimposed on the outer face of thedisk, wires in circuit, and screws extending throu h the guard, throughthe disk and throng the ends of said element and connected to threspective wires.

3. In a cigar lighter, a lighting head including a disk, an ignitingelement on the outer face of the disk having its ends extend ing beyondthe inner face of the disk and turned at an angle and engaged with theinner face of the disk, a guard superimposed on the outer face of thedisk, electric wires for the element, and combined means connected tothe wires and to the guard and disk for securing the parts in theirrecited relation.

4. In a cigar lighter, a lightin head comprising a heating disk spaced aove a heat and electric insulation disk by insulation blocks, said disksconnected to one another by bolts throu h said blocks, a resistancecigar i niting e ement attached in said heating di r, said ignitingelement connected through a step-down transformer to a lighting circuit'as a source of electrical supply.

5. In combination with a cigar lighter head, an igniting element for' acigar comprisin a grid having a thinner-central portion than the endsthereof to increase the resistance at that point, and the ends of saidigniting element connected through a stepown transformer to a lightingcircuit as an electrical source of supply to give an igniting heat tosaid central rtion.

6. .A cigar lighter comprising a casing, a non-combustible two-piecelighter head on said casing having a central hole therethrough, a fiatperforated igniting element supported between the parts of said lighterhead across said hole to permit circulation of air through said hole andperforated element, and means within said casin to drive the air throughsaid hole and per crate ignitingelement into a cigar end in said hole tolight the same.

7. A cigar lighter comprising a casing, a non-combustible lighterheadsupported on saidcasing having an opening therethrough a rigidigniting element supported in sai opening on sald lighting headcomprising a sheet of high resistance metal having a series of centralperforations to increase the resistance and superheat the centralportion of said sheet, suitable electrical connection to said sheet toheat thesame, and a blower within said casing to Blow the heat from saidigniting element into the cigar to ignite the same.

8. A cigar lighter comprising a casing, a non-combustible two-piecelighter head having a central hole therethrough, said pieces attached toone another, the inner non-combustible piece having spaced slotstherethrolgh one each side of said hole, a fiat perforate ignitingelement inserted through said slots and across said hole therebetween,the ends 'of said igniting element held in suitable retaining terminals,and

electrical connection thereto to heat said igniting element.

9. A cigar lighter comprisin a casing,

side of said casing, a lighter head attached to said su port comprlsmg alava ring having a ho e central thereof to receive the lighting end of acigar, an asbestos block attached to the inner Side of said lava winhaving a diminished continuation of said hole in said lava ringtherethrough, spaced slots each side of said holein said block, a fiatperforate igniting element received through said slots and across saidhole in said block, folded terminals to receive the ends of saidigniting element, a mometary push switch and a ste down transformerwithin said casing an connected to said terminals in series tomomentarilyheat said ignitingelement, and a fan blower and motorconnected in said series to momentarily blow the air through said iiting element while heated to li ht the en of the cigar.

10. In a cigar ighter, a tubular support having perforations in itssides, a centrally apertured guard extending over the outer end of thesupport, a disk of less diameter than the guard secured in the hood andading its peripher spaced from the inner circumference of t e hood toallow air to enter between the hood and the disk periphery, and anenergizable igniting elementcarried by the dis 11. In a cigar lighter, asupport, a guard borne by the support and having a'cigarreceivingaperture, a disk beneath the guard having 1ts periphery exposed so as tocontact with the air to cool-same, and an igniting element borne b thedisk.

12. In a cigar lig ter, a lightinghead, igniting means, means to heatthe igniting means, and means to force a blast of air against theigniting means upon heating of the igniting means.

13. In a cigar li hter, igniting means, means to force a b ast of air 'aainst the igniting means, and means to simu taneously heat the ignitingmeans and to operate the air forcing means.

14. In a cigar lighter, a tubular member, a lightin head on one end ofthe member, a rotary an at the opposite end of the member, and means tooperate the fan and simul, taneously to heat theigniting means.

15. In a cigar lighter, a tubular member, a lighting head connected tothe member a fan also connected to the member, an means to operate thefan and simultaneously toheat the ignitingmeans.

In testimon whereof I have aflixed my signature in t e resence of twowitnesses.

. UDDEY B. CLARK.

Witnesses:

H. A. -SANDBERG, H. P. Ammnson'.

